The Sobriety project aims to provide an informal environment using the waterways and the Museum collection as a resource to break down barriers and encourage learning for disadvantaged people. It is affiliated with the National Community Boats Association to deliver boat-handling courses. All students are fully integrated and unaware of labels and categories, which boost confidence, offer anonymity and breaks down traditional learning and socialising barriers. The training has to be funded mainly from external bodies and means that courses and training are dependant on the success of finding suitable funding from Charitable Trusts and Government sources. This means that not all training is sustainable and that courses change dependant on funds.

Courses currently available at the Museum are:

Roots 2 Shoots Peoples Milions Allotment Regeneration Project.
Following the ITV and Big Lottery Fund 2007 competiion we received a grant of £62,500 to regenerate a group of derelict allotments to produce fruit and vegetables for our museum cafe and the Moorlands Coomunity Cafe in Old Goole. The building work is well underway and spring and summer vegetables and salads are growing well. The fruit cage is full of berries, figs, grapes, kiwi fruit and strawberries. The project encourages participatiom from Youth Inclusion Projects, schools, community groups and volunteers and offers training days.

An important part of Yorkshires Industrial Heritage is to be conserved, thanks to a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) it was announced this week. The award of £42,600 will allow The Yorkshire Waterways Museum, Goole, to conserve three of the last remaining ‘Tom Puddings’ and restore them to working order.

‘Tom Puddings’ formed part of a system of inland waterways coal transportation unique to the Aire and Calder Navigation. Invented in 1861 by engineer William Bartholomew. The Tom Pudding system revolutionised coal transport from Yorkshire to Goole Docks, and the system was operational for over 120 years until it ceased in 1986.

‘Railway On The Water – Relaunched’, which will start early in the new year, will not only conserve the vessels, but will also provide opportunities for volunteers to get involved in the project by helping to collect people’s memories and documenting the project by filming for a DVD.

The culmination of the project will be a relaunch event to celebrate the return of this unique historic transport system to Goole’s canal, which is planned for 19th and 20th September 2009, where Wheldale will be running exhibition trips with its Jebus and Tom Puddings.

Heritage Lottery Fund The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) enables communities to celebrate, look after and learn more about our diverse heritage. From our great museums and historic buildings to local parks and beauty spots or recording and celebrating traditions, customs and history, HLF grants open up our nation’s heritage for everyone to enjoy. We have supported more than 26,000 projects, allocating over £3.97 billion across the UK .

We are running a pilot Supporting People project with East Riding of Yorkshire Council during April, May and June of 2009. This is meeting priority indicators for specific target groups. There are traiing and volunteering places on the scheme so please contact if you feel you would like to be involved.

Volunteers

The Museum relies on volunteers for help and has a training programme in place to provide the neccesary skills. It is an enjoyable way to use up spare time, share talent and experience and to meet new friends in a friendly professional environment. Volunteers are always needed for boat skippering and crewing, the Community Garden, the Nature Trail, and for Museum Front of House help. Volunteers are offered courses in Basic Food Hygiene, First Aid, and Boat Handling. If you are interested in finding out more about the volunteering scheme please contact us.

BBC Breathing Places

The Nature Trail

Towpath / Canalside Nature Trail. A new BBC Breathing Places project started in May 2009 and runs until September. There will be an Open Day with free barbecue on the Nature Trail on Friday June 5th from 11.00am – 6.00pm. There will be a photographic competition, pond dippiong, habitat hunts and volunteering opportunities.

Where is it?

The Trail starts directly outside the Museum gates and runs eastwards through the picnic site, under the railway and along a strip of land between the Dutch River and the Aire & Calder Navigation towards Rawcliffe Bridge.

Why a nature trail here ?

The land itself was derelict for many years and had been used to dump dredgings from the canal. Abandonment has led over the years to it becoming populated by a big variety of fauna and flora. The main habitats are pond and reed bed, scrub and grassland with small areas of copse and woodland.

Where do we go?

To see the Trail’s mixed habitats at their best follow the canal towpath up to the stone drainage culvert (about 1700 metres or roughly a mile), and return along the informal pathway to be found on the right. Also take advantage of the new viewing platform on the pond and take a loser look at a freshwater aquatic environment. Perhaps take a break at the stoned picnic area on the other side of the railway with its meadowland plants and specially planted coppice hedge.

What can we see ?

As well as an extensive range of common and not so common grasses and wild flowers such as orchids, we also have some rare and beautiful birds notably barn owls, kingfishers and reed buntings. Look out also for herons that fish the ponds. If you are very lucky you may see a great crested newt, another protected species.

During the summer months 17 species of butterfly can be seen as well as six spotted burnet moths and the dramatic cannibal moth in the grassland areas. Dragonflies and damselflies can be seen around the pond on hot days hunting for smaller insects. There is always something interesting and exciting to be seen on the Trail whatever the season.

Why is the Trail important?

The Trail is an outdoor classroom, an oasis of wildlife in the midst of an area that is industrialised and intensively farmed. It is a refuge for plants, birds, insects and other animals which make up a complex food chain. We can investigate the way plants and animals live together and learn how man can either damage or enhance the environment. The study of this is called ecology.

And finally…

The area is sensitive. Much time and effort goes into managing it for your enjoyment so please take your litter home and keep your dog under control and clean up after it. Don’t make too much noise.

Caring Caterers

In partnership with East Riding of Yorkshire Council Adult Services, (Worklink at The Grovehill Centre in Beverley), the Yorkshire Waterways Museum now runs a supported employment scheme for adults with learning disabilities. Each day, 2 or 3 trainees work with the cafe caterer and front of house team, gaining valuable skills that could lead to real employment opportunties at the museum or with other local businessess. Trainees are prepared for work, supported in their choices, and offered training and skills opportunites. This has been very succesful and runs currently for two years. The Museum is applying for a social enterprise grant to develop this work further and to work towards cafe sustainability with a trading arm to current activities.

Workshops

The workshops have been refitted to provide a training area for multi skilled engineers and school pupils. This is an exciting and innovative approach to tackling shortfalls in the local labour market and providing quality training for young people in Goole. It will be used by school leavers, Job Centre referrals and mainstream and special schools.

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

Work with Local Open Prisons

This work is funded by Charitable Foundations and aims to provide a dignified environment for re-settling prisoners to undertake training and purposeful volunteering. The programme is managed by a full time Prisons Works Co- ordinator The programme engages men from Moorlands Open Prison who are able to contribute their many skills to the smooth running of the whole organisation.

BBC Children in Need

This project started in April 2008 and runs for three years. There are regular activities including boat trips, educational weekend workshops, family bonding days on the boats and residentials. Please contact us if you are aware of any children who would benfit rom getting involved.

Coalfields Regeneration Trust

From our project in Thorne we are funded by Coalfields Regeneration Trust to deliver a wide range of opportunites and training to young people in Thorne, Moorends and Stainforth. Please contact the Thorne Office on 01405 741122 if you would like furhter information.